• By Todd Luck
• Posted Friday, September 10, 2021

Forsyth County receives County Partnership Award for support of N.C. Cooperative Extension

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners and Manager’s Office received the high honor of being recognized in front of their peers, winning the 2020 N.C. Cooperative Extension County Partnership Award for the North Central District at the annual N.C. Association of County Commissioners Conference held last month in Wilmington.

The purpose of the County Partnership Award is to recognize local governments for their outstanding partnership with N.C. Cooperative Extension. The award recognized the County's support for the Forsyth County Center.

“Forsyth County government goes above and beyond to ensure that the Forsyth County Agricultural Center has the ability to fund programs and events for the educational benefit of its residents who aspire to enrich their lives through agriculture, foods and nutrition and 4-H youth & family programs.” said Kim Gressley, County Extension Director.

The award celebrated how inclusive the county has been as an organization with the local Extension office, providing training programs for leadership, strategic planning meetings, focus groups on how to improve the workplace, opportunities to celebrate employees and an environment that values its employees. County commissioners personally attend numerous Extension events, presenting awards for volunteers and relaying messages of support. Forsyth County government does not just say that inclusivity is important; they really do “walk the walk.” Commissioners also appoint qualified individuals to the Agricultural Advisory Board and lend support for Cooperative Extension.

The Forsyth County government team, including all Commissioners, have vigorously advocated for Cooperative Extension on numerous opportunities. Extension has had the opportunity to grow and develop its service mission through creative lenses, which helps the government team and Commissioners to engage with Cooperative Extension staff to reach the ultimate goal for our county ~ to improve the lives of people through research-based educational outreach.